Out-of-Door Academy is a college preparatory school in Sarasota, Florida. It serves students in prekindergarten through grade 12 on two campuses in the Sarasota area, one on Siesta Key and one in Lakewood Ranch, the Upper School Uihlein Campus. Notable alumni and Eagles guitarist, Joe Walsh, remembered specifics of his time at the Out-of-Door Academy, including PE and riding horses on beaches.
History
The Out-of-Door School was established in 1924 by Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, followers of Belgian progressive education pioneer Ovide Decroly. Classes and free time were spent outside on the school's campus on Siesta Key, with wooden cabins serving as classrooms during inclement weather and dormitories. Over time, the classes were held indoors. In 1977, the school was purchased by 120 school families and transformed into a nonprofit organization, at which point the school became known as Out-of-Door Academy. The Lakewood Ranch campus was established in 1996. Seventh and 8th grades were moved to the new campus in 2000, and in 2008 the campus became known as the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch. The 6th grade was later moved to the Uihlein Campus in 2012. The Out-of-Door Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council. The school is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Campus
The Siesta Key lower school campus is on the National Register of Historic Places as Out-of-Door School. The Upper School campus is located at Lakewood Ranch. Construction began in 2008 for a performing arts center at the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch, and the center opened in 2009. Renovation of the Siesta Key campus and construction of new athletic facilities also began in 2008.
Curriculum
The academy's curriculum is a balanced liberal arts program that includes mathematics, English, science, social studies, Foreign Language including Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese, and music and visual and performing arts. Advanced Placement and honors courses are available.
STEM Science
As of September 2, 2014, the school leadership and lead donors officially broke ground on the Dick Vitale Family Student Center, founded by Dick Vitale and Dart Foundation STEM Center, the newest facility for The Out-of-Door Academy. This center was envisioned as a college-like campus center where students could congregate between classes, or have a place to study. The center will feature state-of-the-art technology as it strives to stay at the forefront of innovation in education.
Extracurricular activities
Student groups and activities include art club, community service club, drama club, National Honor Society, newspaper, Relay for Life, science/environmental club, student council, Tri-M Music Honors Society, Key Club, Invisible Children, and yearbook. 100 hours of Community service are required for upper school students in order to graduate from the school. The Out-of-Door Academy athletic teams, known as the Thunder, compete in interscholastic competition in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
Accolades
In 2006, Out-of-Door Academy was recognized as a Cum Laude Society School, a distinction reserved for the top 1% of all secondary schools in the United States. Out-of-Door Academy is regularly voted "Best Private School" by Sarasota magazine.
